The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1887-12-24
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Presidential Tours.


dent Washington wrote as follows in his
diary: "Had conversation with Colonel
Hamilton on the propriety of my making
tour through the Eastern States during the
recess of Congress to acquire knowledge of
the face of the country, the growth and
agriculture thereof, and the temper and
disposition of the inhabitants toward the
new Government, who thought it very
desirable plan and advised it accordingly"
On the following day he writes: "Convers-
ed with General Knox, Secretary of War,
on the above tour, who also recommended
it accordingly" Two days later he notes
that ''Air. Madison finds no impropriety in
the trip to the eastward, aud that John
Jay highly approves the idea, and observes
that similar visit will be expected by the
Southern States"
1t is in these lines that we find the orr
gin of Presidential tours. Washington
carried out the plan here indicated. His
example has been followed by number of
his successors, and it finds its counterpart
in the Western journey of President Cleve-
land this fall. President Washington's
tours were, however, far different from
those of the Executives of the present gen.
Grafton. 1t was before the days Of the
turnpike and the railroad, and the four
horse coach took the place of the special
drawing room car.
But President Washington had the finest
turuouts of his time. His horses were
blooded ones and his English coach was
the wonder of New York. at was" says
LOSING, "drawn by four spirited bay horses
governed by driver and poatilion, both
in livery, and accompanied by outriders.
The coach was of cream color and was sus-
pended on heavy leather straps, resting
upon iron springs The upper part, sides,
front and rear were furnished with Vene-
tian blinds and black leather curtains.
Upon the door Washingtons arms were
emblazoned and upon the panels upon each
side of the doors were designs emblematic
of the four seasons, painted upon copper on
dark green ground by the celebrated
Italian artist, Cipriani."
The servants that accompanied WASH
ton on his drives while in Philadelphia
were white, and their livery was of white
cloth, trimmed with scarlet or orange.
During his Presidential tours he travelled
in his best style, and the Presidential pro-
cession, as it went through the various
States, was the wonder of the people The
Eastern tour began on the 18th of October,
1889; and the Presidents equipage was
chariot drawn by four spirited bay horses,
which had been raised at Mount Vernon.
Mrs. Washington would not accompany
him, though Lossing says he desired her to
do SO; and he made his trips with his private
secretary, Tobias Lear, and his official sec
retary, Major William Jackson, who rode
beside the chariot on horseback. He had
also retinue of six servants, among whom
was his noted body y-servant, Billie, Of Rev
olutionary fame. He was escorted out of
New York by Chief Justice John Jay,
Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Ham
ilton, and Secretary of War Knox, who
rode on horseback as far as Rye, in West
chester county.
The tour extended to Portsmouth, N. H.,
and Washington. The President returned
to New York on the 18th of November,
having been gone nearly one month. Dur
ing this tour and the tour through the
Southern States, which he took two years
later, he was received everywhere with great
demonstrations of respect and honor.
Business was suspended, bells were rung
and guns fired. There were civic and mil
itary professions, and the President rode
into the various towns under triumphal